Police Officer Involved Domestic Violence.
Lighting a candle of remembrance for those who've lost their lives to domestic violence behind the blue wall, for strength and wisdom to those still there, and a non-ending prayer for those who thought they had escaped but can't stop being afraid.

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Thursday, June 5, 2008

...POLICE WERE CALLED TO 725 BURLEIGH AVE. ABOUT 7:45 A.M. AND FOUND CEDRIC BALLENGER, 37, DEAD IN AN UPSTAIRS BEDROOM OF THE HOME HE SHARED WITH HIS EX-WIFE AND HIS CHILDREN... SHOT MULTIPLE TIMES... SHE TOLD A 911 DISPATCHER THAT SHE SHOT HER EX-HUSBAND AFTER HE RAPED HER... BALLENGER WAS EXAMINED AT A HOSPITAL BECAUSE OF THE RAPE CLAIM, POLICE SAID, BUT DECLINED TO REVEAL WHAT, IF ANY, EVIDENCE WAS FOUND...

Ex-wife of Trotwood officer pleads guilty to manslaughterDayton Daily News, OHBy Lou GriecoThursday, June 05, 2008A woman accused of gunning down her ex-husband, an off-duty Trotwood police officer, pleaded guilty Thursday, June 5, to one count of involuntary manslaughter and two counts of felonious assault. Nicole Ballenger, 34, will be sentenced to 18 years in prison under the plea agreement reached between defense attorney Pat Mulligan and Montgomery County prosecutors. She will not be eligible for parole. Ballenger will be sentenced on June 11 by Montgomery County Common Pleas Judge Barbara P. Gorman. A letter from the mother of the victim, Cedric A. Ballenger, will be read into the record then, Gorman said. Ballenger was indicted in September on three counts of murder and two counts of felonious assault in the April 19 shooting of Cedric Ballenger, a Trotwood police officer and Nicole Ballenger's ex-husband. Under the agreement reached, the murder counts were dropped, but the involuntary manslaughter count was added through a bill of information. The agreement specifies that Ballenger will serve 10 years for the manslaughter count, five years for the two felonious assault counts, plus three years for the firearms specifications attached to the three charges. Police were called to 725 Burleigh Ave. about 7:45 a.m. and found Cedric Ballenger, 37, dead in an upstairs bedroom of the home he shared with his ex-wife and his children. Cedric Ballenger, who was off-duty at the time of the incident, was shot multiple times and pronounced dead at 7:55 a.m. by paramedics, according to the Montgomery County Coroner's Office. Dayton police arrested Ballenger after she told a 911 dispatcher that she shot her ex-husband after he raped her, according to a 911 recording. Nicole Ballenger was examined at a hospital because of the rape claim, police said, but declined to reveal what, if any, evidence was found. Cedric Ballenger had served as school resource officer at Trotwood-Madison High School. Cedric Ballenger had been a patrol officer with the Trotwood police since February 2004 and was in the process of becoming a sergeant. He was also on the Anti-Crime Unit and Trotwood-Madison High School's school resource officer Cedric Ballenger's personnel file showed that he was a father of six children. "We had a dissolution last year. We were working things out. We're still here together," Nicole Ballenger told the dispatcher. "I don't know what went wrong." Montgomery County court records show the Ballengers ended their marriage by dissolution on March 28, 2006.[police officer involved domestic violence law enforcement fatality fatalities murder rape prison jail ohio female perp perpetrator]

27 comments:

Apr 20, 2007[OH] Ofc. Ballenger shot, killed by live-in ex-wife, Nicole...Police believe there were other people home during the time of the shooting... The Ballengers have at least six children between the two of them, according to documents included in Ballenger's city personnel file...

Apr 20, 2007[OH] Ofc. Ballenger's wife Nicole charged with murder +The Montgomery Prosecutor's Office approved two charges of murder and two charges of felonious assault against a police officer against Nicole Ballenger on Friday... Ballenger, who was off duty during the time of the incident, was shot multiples time... she told a 911 dispatcher that she shot her ex-husband after he raped her...

May 3, 2007[OH] Ofc. Ballenger's wife says killing him was accident...Ballenger's brother, Andre Ballenger, also spoke at the funeral... "Many lives have been affected by this senseless tragedy. A father's life was lost. A mother's life was suddenly changed. And their children will have this tragic event with them for the rest of their lives."... Pastor Jimmy Mann of All Nations Bible Fellowship said at the funeral that he visits Nicole Ballenger frequently. "I told her that I would echo her sentiments, her love to the family, how much she loved the family and how much it broke her heart," Mann said. "What happened wasn't supposed to happen. It was an accident... Investigators said that in her 911 call, Nicole Ballenger claimed to have been abused before the shooting... Adjacent to the casket sat dozens of public safety officers from Trotwood. They were accompanied by colleagues from Montgomery and Greene counties, Cincinnati, and the Ohio Highway Patrol...

Sep 9, 2007[OH] 2 wives who shot their Trotwood police husbands in courtA Montgomery County grand jury on Thursday indicted the ex-wife of a slain Trotwood police officer on a charge of murder. Nicole Andriette Ballenger was indicted on three counts of murder and two counts of felonious assault in the April 19 shooting of Cedric A. Ballenger. Also Thursday, a County Common Pleas judge set a $500,000 bond for another woman accused of shooting her estranged husband, also a Trotwood police officer, on Aug. 26...

DAYTON — A woman convicted of gunning down her ex-husband, an off-duty Trotwood police officer, was sentenced Wednesday to 18 years in prison.

Nicole Ballenger, 34, will not be eligible for parole under her plea agreement. She pleaded guilty June 5 to one count of involuntary manslaughter and two counts of felonious assault.

"Even though I don't want to forgive you, I will, " Andre Ballenger, brother of the victim, Cedric Ballenger, said Wednesday, June 11. "But I will not forget."

Ballenger was indicted in September on three counts of murder and two counts of felonious assault. As part of her plea agreement, the murder counts were dropped.

Cedric Ballenger, her ex-husband, was killed April 19, 2007 in the home the couple shared at 725 Burleigh Ave. Her six children, including two with Cedric Ballenger, were in the home as Nicole Ballenger shot her husband with his own gun, according to prosecutors.

Nicole Ballenger expressed remorse during a statement, but also said that she had been a victim of spousal abuse.

Montgomery County Common Pleas Judge Barbara P. Gorman told Nicole Ballenger that her claim was "without any foundation or any proof," before adding "I see absolutely no remorse on your part.

Police were called to 725 Burleigh Ave. about 7:45 a.m. and found Cedric Ballenger, 37, dead in an upstairs bedroom of the home.

Cedric Ballenger, who was off-duty at the time of the incident, was shot multiple times and pronounced dead at 7:55 a.m. by paramedics, according to the Montgomery County Coroner's Office.

According to assistant Montgomery County prosecutor Sandra Hobson, the two had sexual intercourse that morning, then Nicole Ballenger went downstairs. She then checked his cellular phone and found text messages from other women, so she took his service gun and went back to the bedroom "and settled her score with him," Hobson said. "She was angry, she was upset with him and she was losing him."

She shot her husband seven times, including once in the back. Investigators found his naked body on the bed, with sheets still wrapped around his legs, Hobson said.

All six children were home at the time. Nicole Ballenger sent the two oldest up to the bedroom, where their stepfather lay dead or dying, to get her some clothes, Hobson said.

Hobson also said there was no evidence that Cedric Ballenger had been abusive. Defense attorney L. Patrick Mulligan disagreed, he had interviewed witnesses and "there's tons."

Mulligan said he had Nicole Ballenger evaluated twice for battered women's syndrome, but the Mulligan could not use that defense because there was no evidence of an immediate threat to her.

"That doesn't change the fact that she felt trapped," Mulligan said.

Cedric Ballenger had told Nicole that, as a police officer, he could kill her and get away with it, Mulligan said.

"The perception became reality, which resulted in tragedy," Mulligan said. "Everyone lost in this case."

Dayton police arrested Ballenger after she told a 911 dispatcher that she shot her ex-husband after he raped her, according to a 911 recording.

Nicole Ballenger was examined at a hospital because of the rape claim, but there was no evidence of rape or abuse, Hobson said.

Trotwood-MadisonHistorical SocietyP.O. Box 26434Trotwood, Ohio 45426Newsletter August 2008, Volume 9: Issue 8TROTWOOD COMMUNITY INVITED TO JOINCEDRIC BALLENGER SCHOLARSHIP MEMORIAL BIKE RIDETrotwood residents and businesses are invited to join the Cedric Ballenger Memorial Bike Ride, a free community event on Saturday, August 23rd being held in memory of this Trotwood Police Officer who was slain on April 19, 2007. Registration that day begins at 9:00 a.m. at the Olde Town Train Depot at the corner of Main and Broadway in Trotwood. By 10:00 a.m. riders will depart for a leisurely ride to Trotwood-Madison High School and the formal dedication ceremony of the Cedric Ballenger Memorial Scholarship Fund. From this fund scholarships will be awarded to deserving youths in the Trotwood-Madison area. This event promises an entire day of fun-filled family festivities featuring games, food and refreshments, and special door prizes including those for the youngest and oldest bike riders. A free block party will also be awarded to the City of Trotwood Ward having the most event participants. The City’s Fire/EMS and Police Departments will be on hand to provide safety demonstrations and support. All riders must wear helmets. A Cedric Ballenger Memorial Scholarship Fund account has already been established at the Trotwood Key Bank branch. Event participants are strongly encouraged to make contributions at the event. Advance contributions to the ‘Cedric Ballenger Memorial Scholarship Fund’ can be made at any area Key Bank branch or mailed to its Committee Chairperson and Trotwood Vice-Mayor Joyce S. Cameron, 426 Glenview Road, Trotwood, Ohio 45426. To contribute to the Cedric Ballenger Memorial Scholarship Fund or for more information please contact Vice-Mayor Joyce S. Cameron at (937) 657-6849 or jcameron@trotwood.org.http://www.trotwood.org/pdf/HS08-08Newsletter.pdf

TROTWOOD CITY COUNCIL JOINT MEETINGW/TROTWOOD MADISON CITY SCHOOL DISTRICTMINUTES - MAY 7, 2007...3rd ANNUAL BASKETBALL GAME BETWEEN TROTWOOD POLICE DEPARTMENT vs. TROTWOOD-MADISOON CITY SCHOOL STAFF, SATURDAY, MAY 12, 2007 AT 6:10 P.M. AT TROTWOOD-MADISON HIGH...SCHOOL: Mayor McLaurin said tickets are $3.00 for adults and $1.00 for children. Children 5 yrs and under are free. Half of the proceeds will be donated to deceased Police Officer and School Resource Officer Cedric Ballenger Scholarship Fund. Come out and enjoy this community event....http://www.trotwood.org/pdf/05-07-07%20Joint%20School%20Board%20Meeting%20Minutes.pdf

Trotwood residents and businesses are invited to join this free community event being held on Saturday, August 23rd in memory of Trotwood Police Officer Cedric Ballenger who was slain on April 19, 2007.

Registration that day begins at 9:00 a.m. at the Olde Town Train Depot (corner of Main and Broadway). By 10:00 a.m. riders will depart for a leisurely ride to Trotwood-Madison High School and the formal dedication ceremony of the Cedric Ballenger Memorial Scholarship Fund. From this fund scholarships will be awarded to deserving youths in the Trotwood-Madison area.

This event promises an entire day of fun-filled family festivities featuring games, food and refreshments, and special door prizes including those for the youngest and oldest bike riders. A free block party will also be awarded to the City of Trotwood Ward having the most event participants. The City’s Fire/EMS and Police Departments will be on hand to provide safety demonstrations and support, and all riders must wear helmets.

The Cedric Ballenger Memorial Scholarship Fund account has already been established at the Trotwood Key Bank branch. Event participants are strongly encouraged to make contributions at the event. Advance contributions to the ‘Cedric Ballenger Memorial Scholarship Fund’ can be made at any area Key Bank branch or mailed to its Committee Chairperson and Trotwood Vice-Mayor Joyce S. Cameron, 426 Glenview Road, Trotwood, Ohio 45426.

To contribute to the Cedric Ballenger Memorial Scholarship Fund or for more information please contact Vice-Mayor Joyce S. Cameron at (937) 657-6849 or jcameron@trotwood.org.

Seems like yesterday............Yesterday we'd sit and laugh when he left the PD. We shot pool til the wee hours and sharing the dreams of tomorrow. Yesterday we would jump on our motorcycles and ride like free soldiers with plenty of great moments to be thankful about. Yesterday Ced would walk in to any room and give that stern look that only last a second as he'd burst out laughing saying, "SUP"..... Yesterday I'd watch Ced and Big "E" ball in my back yard while they released the PD day away and at the same time made the rival entertaining. From the White paint on the top of Erik's head from the garage door to the no dunk on me rule set by Ced yesterday is how it was. Yesterday Ced brightened up many faces yet still maintained the ability to uphold the law. Yesterday a GOOD man, father, brother, uncle, son and most of all FRIEND was taken away from us.........No more shooting pool with my Homie, watching he and E fuss while playing ball only to walk away laughing. The smile that he displayed to his children after a long day of work, GONE! The son that a mother loved....no longer here. The voice that spoke to the youth at Trotwood schools....no longer heard. That police officer that put his life on the line for the community.....lost his life at HOME!!!!!!!! It's so hard to say good-bye to Yesterday. SLY

Hi my name is Brian, Thanks for remembering my brother. I remember a time when it was he and I on the court playing hard and talking trash to each other. Cedric looked up to me as an older brother, It was me that got him involved in sports as a 5 year old. Again, thanks for remembering him.

8-5-2013. Obviously you love your sister, and that's fine. Keep in mind we loved my brother Cedric to. Your comment implies that she was defending/protecting herself and her children. If you want to discuss this on a blog or anywhere else at least be honest about it. How was she protecting herself from a man sleeping in bed with at least one shot in the back. TRY AGAIN.

THIS WAS MY DAUGHTER. SHE WAS LOVED BY MANY PEOPLE. SHE WILL BE MISSED DEARLY. WE DON'T WANT TO HEAR ANY BAD COMMITS. WE NEED ALL THE PRAYERS WE CAN GET. PLEASE DON'T DOWN MY DAUGHTER.SHE DID NOTHING WRONG. SHE IS IN HEAVEN AND MY FAMILY AND GRANDSONS DON'T NEED TO READ ANY UPSETTING WORDS. PLEASE BE KIND TO ALL OF US. THANK YOU KAREN *ANNA'S MOM*

FOR ALL WHO KNOW NICOLE, WE KNOW SHE IS INNOCENT.SHE ONLY GOT THE MAX TIME BECAUSE HE WAS A P.O.,BUT FOR ALL THAT REALLY KNEW HIM, HE DESERVED JUST WHAT HE GOT. HE WAS WRONG AND SHE SHOULD HAVE TRIED TO GET AWAY.HE WAS AN ADULTERER AND CRROKED COP, OFF-DUTY. ITS NOT FAIR TO NICKY OR HER SIX CHILDREN, BUT GOD IS USING HER GREATLY TO HELP OTHER BATTERED WOMEN. POLICE AND HIGH OFFICIALS GET AWAY WITH MURDERS AND OTHER WHITE-COLLAR CRIMES, BUT IN THE END, GOD WILL PREVAIL.AND TO JUDGE GORMAN AND THE PROSECUTORS, YOU WILL FACE GOD ONE DAY AND ANSWER TO ALL THE WRONGFUL CONVICTI0NS OF INNOCENT PEOPLE, AND RELEASING REAL CRIMINALS AND ADDICTS.

8-5-2013: My name is Brian, I am one of Cedric Ballenger's older brothers. I was reflecting on memories that my brother and I shared (good and bad) He was loved and I am missing him; which prompted me to google info about him, which in turn led me to this blog. In reading some of the comments on this blog, it amazes me that there are some that made the statements he got what he deserved" and "she did nothing wrong". Well understandably or maybe not so understandably these are friend and family members of Nicole. Just a reminder to them that the taking of a life is WRONG. The rape allegation was just insult to injury. My brother didn't deserve to die or have his name slandered.

My family members have tried our level best to maintain a calm and dignity in the face of this senseless tragedy; refusing to get into an exchange of ugly comments back and forth. Even during our visit to Ohio to make funeral arrangements for my brother, our official stance to the media was "NO COMMENT". Because of their concerns I offered the Trotwood Police Dept my assurances that their would be no trouble from our family. As hurt and pained as we were, we didn't want anything to escalate starting with a war of words through the media. I met the Grandmother (who I understand has since passed) and the mother and after a somewhat rocky start we managed to smooth things over and remain cordial for the sake of all that were adversely affected, especially the children and our grieving mother.

Let me point out that my brother was not perfect (we're all sinners) but he was no crooked cop either; nor was he a rapist or an abuser. These are all lies that I will defend my brother against until my dying day. A true measure of his character is that he even married a woman with 4 children (one with special needs) produced two more with her and treated them all equal. I would like to thank the other poster for pointing that out as well.

And while I'm at it I would like to again thank Maj. Swafford and "Big E" both of the Trotwood Police Dept. and there were others including Cedric's and Nicole's spiritual advisor Pastor Mann. There were others who's names escape me so many years later and I'm truly sorry about that because you were very instrumental in helping us navigate through a troubled time in an unfamiliar city.

On behalf of my family we thank you and have never stopped thanking you. We include in our thanks the board members of the Cedric Ballenger Scholarship Foundation and the annual Bike Ride. And lastly the out pouring of love shown by the Trotwood High School faculty and students who we never got to formally offer thanks to. It will forever be ingrained in my mind and heart the way those kids lined the street and stood shoulder to shoulder as the procession passed by their school. To all of my brother's friends and colleagues that remember him fondly we send love and thanks to you as well. There is one brotha in particular he and his lady friend helped so much and showed so much love and compassion and it kills me that i can't recall his/their namea. Please forgive me you both deserve better. My brother is gone now and we loved and miss him dearly as any family would miss one of their own. Nicole is in prison as she should be and her children have no mother or father in their lives. And you think she did nothing wrong? I'm left to question your sense of right and wrong as well as your I.Q. Such a senseless tragedy. BeskandBrigtest@aol.com

Does anyone remember that they were divorced, and I don't think being shot in the back for a suspected affair is justified if it was an, "an affair". I knew Ced, he was a kind and caring person, far from a crooked cop or an abusive person. He took all those kids as his own, as a matter of fact for a really long time i thought they all were all naturally his. Does anyone think about them? She shot him and left his body upstairs for a long period of time with the kids in the house aware of what was going on, she has people coming to the house before she called the police. She wasn't thinking of anyone but herself and covering her own rear. She didn't get what she deserved! He deserves to be remembered as the kind a decent person he was and no one should speak I'll of him. He put his life on the line every time he went to work, he was a uncommon officer, he was kind to people an treated them with the respect they deserved and he got results that way. That is the way he should be remembered!

Hi My name is Brian and thank you so much for remembering my brother's memory and your "right on the mark" comments. in fact my reply to the sister I mention your comment in part regarding Cedric's treating all the children equal, even though only 2 were his biological children. He was not an abusing as is being claimed and was a father to her 4 children how could she have hoped to do better.

i have been on the beaten side but that does not give any one the right to take anothers life I knew Ceddy And Nikki.... and she was wrong way before this happend just as he was but in the end she did what she did knowingly and that is why she is where she is but does not justify him being gone.... his family, friends miss him so to this day and yes God will judge them when that time comes i know in my heart he judged Ceddy foe his wrong doings just as he will Nikki but remeber they were DISSOLUSIONED when this sensless crime took place so what if he got text messages THOU SHALL NOT KILL!!!!!!!!! will be judged also.... and to call your family and pastor before you call the police and to do this in your home with your children.... SMH i know where ill go when i pass do you...

8-6-2013. Thank you dear poster, my name is Brian,Cedric's older brother and your comments are fair and logical. They really make the point as you speak from a perspective of someone that knew my brother and his ex wife.

With his birthday coming up I am flooded with the memories of his great contributions to Trotwood youth! Cedric Ballenger was a great friend, awesome school resource officer and encouraging mentor to young people. He is still and always will be missed~

Many things he would do to lower her self esteem and would just dismiss the kids amd its not all nikkis fault why would his gun even be out so someone could get to it no one has ever considered that think about it

A wife getting to the gun is no mystery. She's grown. You can't shoot people because you don't like the way you treat you or the way they make you feel. It's not the right solution. I'm not blaming anyone because what's done is done and God knows the heart, but for the rest of us, we have to find a different way than taking someone's life. It impacts everyone who cares about or loves either of them.